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Alpha Borough Council candidates face off in June 3, 2014, Democratic primary

From left, former Alpha Borough Councilman Craig Dunwell, Councilman Harry Zikas Jr. and Tracy Grossman are vying in the June 3 primary for the Democratic nomination to challenge independent Councilwoman Carol Schwar in November for one seat.
(Courtesy photos)

Dunwell said borough officials made a strategic decision for Alpha to keep its water utility, but it appears to him the current Democrats on council have no desire to complete ongoing water and sewer system improvements.

He said the improvements in the water utility partially paid for themselves by reducing electricity, chemical and labor costs. By hiring a third public works employee, officials are risking some of those savings, he said.

"They're putting the borough on a course toward a huge tax or rate increase," he said.

He said he'd like to change the sewer billing system to make it fairer to small families and senior citizens. Currently, all residential users pay a flat $500 per year. Dunwell said he'd like to switch to a smaller minimum charge to account for fixed costs and a per-gallon charge that accounts for variable costs based on usage.

He ended his term as a Republican councilman in December and said he switched parties to give fiscally conservative Democrats a choice in the election. Officials discussed making the third public works position part time at a work session last week after it became clear the budget would not pass if it included the full-timer. Mayor Ed Hanics broke a tie vote along party lines in March to create the position.

Grossman also identified infrastructure work and keeping taxes down as important issues for the borough. She said officials need to finish the "very much needed" water and sewer projects without creating a further burden to the taxpayer.

Grossman said she could see back in 2006 that the borough was "throwing money out the window" on its municipal court and needed a better way to deal with it. She said she'd like to see what the costs and savings would be from sharing public works services before advocating for it, but that in the small borough, shared services are good for the residents.

She said it's hard to specify additional sources of savings without being on council because so much happens "behind closed doors." She wants to make residents feel like part of the process instead of spectators, she said.

"I want to live in a community where people want to live in Alpha and be part of Alpha, and I just feel that isn't happening anymore in our town," Grossman said.